Tennis

Wimbledon women show life beyond Williams

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-06-29 17:37

 

Sabine Lisicki of Germany celebrates after defeating Marion Bartoli of France at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 28, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Top name

Battling German Sabine Lisicki, who reached the quarter-finals as a 19-year-old in 2009, would probably be something of top name by now had she not missed much of last year through injury and she brought a touch of romance to the tournament when she became only the second wildcard to reach the semi-finals.

She and Bartoli served up a superb match to open proceedings on Centre Court, with the atmosphere cranked up by the rain drumming on the roof as lightning flashed above.

Bartoli saved three match points in the second set as both women traded ferocious groundstrokes but with Lisicki also mixing things up by liberal use of the drop shot.

The packed crowd certainly appreciated the effort and quality they were seeing and provided raucous support to both players.

Bartoli, who gave absolutely everything on each shot, eventually ran out of steam and lost the third set 6-1 but she was quick to defend the state of the women's game.

"Maybe people outside (of tennis) are just thinking about the names," she said.

"But I think we showed a very good match today and I don't really think that because we are not named Serena or Venus Williams it means we don't know how to play tennis.

"I think everyone really enjoyed that kind of match. I think woman's tennis just has to get to have more matches like that so people will enjoy to come and watch us. Even though we don't have some big star names, we still be able to play some good matches.

"I think it all depends on the level of intensity we show up on the court."

Sharapova certainly showed that as she steamrollered Cibulkova 6-1 6-1 in an hour and though the match was not a contest in any way, it was certainly an exhibition of fabulous hitting by the number five seed and hot favourite.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus celebrates defeating Tamira Paszek of Austria in their quarter-final match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 28, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Czech Petra Kvitova's clash with Pironkova was a meeting of two of last year's semi-finalists and though lacking the quality of the Lisicki-Bartoli match, there was drama before Kvitova triumphed in three sets against a woman who arrived at Wimbledon having won only four matches in 14 tournaments this year.

Fourth seed Victoria Azarenka then overpowered Austrian Tamira Paszek in straight sets to set up a last-four clash against Kvitova and with Sharapova taking on Lisicki in the other semi-final there was still plenty of life left in the women's singles tournament.